NEADES

Greek Name

Transliteration

Latin Spelling

Translation

THE NEADES were gigantic animals whose roar could split the earth. They were believed to have inhabited the island of Samos in primeval times.

The legend perhaps arose from dinosaur fossils found on the island.

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Aelian, On Animals 17. 28 (trans. Scholfield) (Greek natural history C2nd A.D.) :
"Euphorion says in his Commentaries [C3rd B.C.] that in primeval times Samos was uninhabited, for there appeared in the island animals of gigantic size, which were savage and dangerous to man to approach, and they were called Neades. Now these animals with their mere roar split the ground. So there is a proverbial saying current in Samos, ‘He roars louder than the Neades.’ And the same writer asserts that huge bones are displayed even to this day."